New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-30
SUv1JOR CR4NDLEHS ELL.

| What q wav General Grant had of putting
| things. In his speech at Warren, ONO, III
1850. he sand There is not precinct In
this Nation where a Democrat cannot cast MS
ballot and have it counted as cast, no matter
what the prcdominancc of the opposite party.
He can claim his political opinions. even IL he
is only one among a thousand without lear
and without prescription on account OF MS
opinions. There are fourteen States, and local.
ties in some others, where Republicans have
not this privilege. That Is one reason why
| | am Republican,"
This is Just as true now as 1t was seven years
ago. Senator Chambers bill regulating the
elections for members of Congress in south
| Carolina. Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi,
the text Of which We have received, Is an
effort to remedy this monstrous injustice III
| part.
The bill is elaborate. containing sNty-three
sections. 1t authorizes the President and SEN
ate 10 appoint four supervisors OF election III
each Congressional District III these States, to
be divided between the principal National par
ties. who shall set of the distliCt into precincts
containing as nearly as possible 100 voters
A careful system Of registration is provided
for; uniformity in ballots is required; each
political party is granted the right to have
challcngcrs and watchers present; the details
regarding polling places. methods Ol counting,
verifying. etc. are carefully prescribed. Inc
SUPERVISORS arc made the CanvaSsing board for
the district and their certificate Of the result
is transmitted directly TO the House Of lCpIc-
scntativcS. Fraudulent voting or fraud by any
election officers, is made felony, punishable
! IL If "a a.
There can be no question. Of course Of the
RIGHT Of Congress to pass such a law. The
control Of Congress over this subject is para
mount t. use the words Of the supreme Court
in the case Of the Baltimore judges Of election
who were indicted for interfering with United
States supervisors Of elections and deputy
maishalS. Congress my either assume entire
change Of such elections as Mr.. Chambers
bill proposes IN the four States named. on 1t
NAV cooperate with the State Governments.
It's power being supreme, any inconsistent
regulations by the State must give WY. There
could be no question, either. IT would be sup
POSED, OF the piopficty Of such law If the
elections in the States named arc chaIactcrzcd
by fraud and oppression. then II Is onl. just
that the National Government should protect
voters in voting for members Of Con SrcSs. II
the elections arc fair then no injustice viii be
done to any one by the exercise by Congress Of
its ndoubtcd right to regulate these elections.
If there is wrong. it VIII be rightcd; If there
is no wrong, none will be added.
This BIZ. will be met, Of course, with the oll
cry Of "bloody shirt There is a new species
Of Northern doughfacc who tuns his back
upon this whole subject, refusing to give 1t
any consideration whatever. His theory is that
il is best the negroes should not vote, no
matter what their rights may be. Just 50 the
douShfaccS Of past generation used to say it
was better the negroes should not be free.
They wcro better OF as slaves. They were not
fiji to be free. So now they arc not fit 20 vote.
They arc not fit TO have the protection Of the
laws against cruelty and fraud. They are not
fit TO be guaranteed their rights. IL sometimes
seems that the conscience Of the North has
grown cold on this question. But there Will
come an awakening. The crime Of the sup
preston Of the negro vote at the South by
fraud and by violence is as distinctly an offence
against the well being Of the county as slavery
was, though not so hcinous. IL must be dealt
with sooner or later There can be no escape
from it, any more than there was from the
slavery question. And the later question viii
never be settled until II can be SAID that " there
is not a precinct in this Nation where a Re-
publican cannot cast his ballot and have it
counted as cast no matter what the pfcdom-
nance Of the opposite party"